Apple Clarifies iBooks Author Licensing

bonch writes "After drawing criticism over iBooks Author's licensing language, Apple has modified it in a software update to make clear that Apple is claiming rights to the .ibook format itself and not the content therein: '[The license restriction] does not apply to the content of such works when distributed in a form that does not include files in the .ibooks format.' In other words, the content may be sold on competing book stores as long as it is not packaged using iBooks Author."

Comments

Re:Which was always obvious.

[Overly Critical Guy]

Unfortunately, that crowd has practically taken over and turned this place into a constant Apple hatefest. Can you believe that you actually used to be able to praise Apple for something and not get modded down? The nerve of praising one of the most influential tech companies in the world!

Re:Which was always obvious.

[Overly Critical Guy]

Why would you be outraged? Why would you even care? If you don't like it, just don't use iBooks Author.

The sense of entitlement in tech communities is what's actually outrageous.

Re:Which was always obvious.

[JohnnyMindcrime]

The thing that always amuses me is that the very reasons Apple users often quote on here for not using Microsoft Windows or Linux are things they seem to be perfectly willing to accept under Apple's regime.

For example, we often here them espouse how wonderful OS X is because it's based on a BSD UNIX core - yet anyone who uses a UNIX system properly will tell you that you cannot embrace it properly unless you use some of the power user automation and scripting at the command line. But OS X users will say they found Linux too difficult for that very reason.

Likewise, they will often complain that Windows is far too locked down, with too many proprietary file formats - yet seem perfectly willing to accept the countless proprietary file formats that Apple imposes on them.

I actually believe that for the majority of Apple users, it is simply about making a fashion statement about joining an elitist little club, hence display of the Apple logo being so important to them, and then trying to make rational arguments for their OS/hardware of choice that don't stand up to close scrutiny.